“It is nice to get some recognition but like I said, there is a ton of work to do if I want to stay there by the end of the season.”

Benzschawel, who started the last two games of the 2015 season at right guard, is set to make his 17th consecutive start at that position when UW opens the season at 8 p.m. Friday against visiting Utah State.

Despite his postseason accolades last season, Benzschawel understood he needed to improve his overall game.

His forte is his mobility and he was able to block effectively on the move and in space. His weak area last season was trying to hold up against stronger linemen who relied on bull-rushes to go overpower him.

Benzschawel increased his strength and dropped between 5 and 10 pounds and is down to about 310.

Benzschawel acknowledged that too often last season his punch immediately after the snap was ineffective.

“I wasn’t playing with full extension,” he said. “Because all it takes is one hand-swipe by the defense and you’re falling.”

Once the defender defeated the initial punch, he was often able to get Benzschawel off-balance and collapse the pocket on pass plays or get into the backfield on running plays.

“You’re not going to land every single punch,” he said. “So if you miss, you’ve got to re-fit and sit it down (anchor). That was tough to do last year because I wasn’t as strong.

“I’ve really been working on it a lot. That was one of my weaknesses last year. I’m doing a better job this camp.”

Joe Rudolph, UW’s offensive coordinator/line coach, preferred to focus on the growth of the unit since the end of last season.

However, he did note Benzschawel is a better overall player than he was as a redshirt sophomore.

“I believe he plays smarter,” Rudolph said. “He’s got certain tools that he is gifted with and he’s got to play to those strengths. I think he better knows himself in that respect.”

Biadasz ready? Redshirt freshman center Tyler Biadasz appears calm as he prepares to make his starting debut on Friday.

Ask the Amherst High School graduate if he is getting nervous or antsy and Biadasz smiles, shrugs his shoulders and says no.

“It doesn’t bother me," he said. "You play how you practice. Obviously, it isn't practice but it is going to be similar. I think imagining it and imagining succeeding is a big thing.”

Extra points: Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard plans to use both senior Lubern Figaro and redshirt freshman Dontye Carriere-Williams as the third cornerback in obvious passing situations in the opener.

Senior tight end Troy Fumagalli in the off-season studied video of safety play with Leonhard, an All-American safety at UW who went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL, “Throughout my career, I was beat by a lot of tight ends,” Leonhard deadpanned. “So I can give him little tips.”